Two popular Telugu television channels are facing the allegations of manipulating their viewership so as to climb up the ratings data.
According to an update released by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), India, the two Telugu channels – TV9 and V6 – are suspected to have resorted to mala fide practices in rating data.
The BARC announced that their rating for the next four weeks has been suspended pending investigation into their mala fide practices.
It may be mentioned that BARC has replaced TAM in giving TRP ratings for television channels by adopting more scientific methods. Ever since BARC has entered the scene, the irregularities in rating have come down, say sources.
In first phase, BARC has started eliminating the fraudsters by conducting market survey. In second phase, some other fraudster channels will also be eliminated.
Sources said these influential channels are trying to manipulate even BARC ratings by colluding with some of its members.
“While these criminal acts may succeed in compromising some members of the BARC panel, these are temporary spurts for the channels which will not be sustainable over a long term. Once there is sufficient proof of mala fide intent, the BARC will stop publishing ratings for these channels,” the BARC release said.
